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The front door is locked at 16:15 but the service operates until 17:00

The University Counselling Service offers short-term counselling for students and, additionally, we can help to signpost students to longer-term or specialist support resources, as appropriate.

We aim to offer an assessment appointment within a week to ten days and this appointment can be sufficient for many students.

If ongoing short-term counselling is appropriate with us, you’ll be placed on a waiting list. You may need to wait a number of weeks for ongoing counselling but we will always prioritise those in greatest need.

If you are experiencing a crisis, please go to the ‘IN CRISIS’ section below.

We’re here to help.

Disabled Access

A concrete ramp provides access into the University Counselling Service at 5 Dunbar Street.

Counsellors counsel from their respective rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors which are accessed by stairs. If you have mobility issues please let us know so we can arrange for you to meet a counsellor in our Ground Floor Counselling Room.

Counselling offers the opportunity to explore any issues which are causing you concern or distress. These can be emotional or social, or connected to your work or studies.

Concerns can be long-standing or the result of a recent event or crisis. They may:

Result in uncomfortable feelings such as anxiety, depression, unhappiness or fear

Cause stress, perhaps disrupting normal eating or sleeping patterns

Prevent full participation in University life

Counselling can create time and space to explore these issues in a confidential setting with a professional counsellor who is not directly involved. This may provide a chance to find a new perspective on the problem and often to become more accepting of yourself in the process.

Counsellors will not tell you what to do or give you advice, though they may explore a range of support options with you which may help. They aim to empower you to make the right decisions to improve or change your current situation.

Counselling should not be regarded as an alternative to seeing your GP or Doctor, who still remains the person overall responsible for your physical and mental health. Local GP Practices

However, we are here for you and we will do what we can to help you.

How much does it cost?

The service is free of charge.

Our Team

All our counsellors are professionally trained, attend external supervision and work to the Ethical Framework of their professional body.

Occasionally, the service may also have Associate Counsellors, who, whilst less experienced, are professionally trained, externally supervised, mentored by our counsellors and comply with the same Ethical Framework.

Head of Service

Rick Hughes

Counsellors

Lindsay Gardner

Rhona Gough

Sally King

Namrata Labroo

Sha'yo Lai

Anna Perlinski

Jacquie Simpson

Office Administrator

Nicky Mann

Confidentiality

Everything you share with your counsellor stays within the University Counselling Service.

We do not pass any information to anyone else, including other University Departments, unless we have your permission to do so. This means we will not even confirm or deny your visit to a counsellor, without your consent.

However, rarely, there may be exceptional circumstances when the counsellor feels it is necessary to act without your permission, although we would seek to explain this with you first. At such times, the importance of preserving client trust and autonomy will be weighed against the importance of reducing the risk to you or to other people.

Whilst there is usually someone in our office, there may be occasions when the office is closed – so to avoid disappointment, we recommend you contact us by email or telephone.

Assessment Appointments

When you seek counselling from us:

We will offer you an initial 30-40 minute Assessment appointment which allows us to hear what brings you to the service, explore with you whether counselling might help or sign-post you to other suitable sources of help or information.

Some students find the Assessment appointment is sufficient.

If counselling may be suitable for you, your details will be added to the waiting list and our Administrator will contact you once a counselling slot becomes available.

If you wish to see the same counsellor you met for the Assessment appointment, you can specify this at the time. Sometimes this may mean that you have to wait a little longer for counselling until this counsellor has availability.

Arranging an Assessment Appointment

To arrange an Assessment appointment, please email us at counselling@abdn.ac.uk using your University email address, and provide the following information:

Your Student ID and a UK mobile number

Your availability and whether you have a preference for a male or female counsellor

If you are unable to attend an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible, so we can offer this appointment to another student.

Duration of Counselling

We offer registered students short-term counselling.

The frequency and total number of appointments offered is agreed between you and the counsellor.

This can depend on a number of factors including the presenting issue, counsellor availability and demands on the service.

Choice of Counsellor

If you would prefer to specifically see a male or female counsellor, please specify your preference when you contact us, but please be aware that your choice may delay access, subject to a counsellor’s availability.

Waiting List

Demand for counselling means you may need to wait until there is an available counsellor.

We prioritise our waiting list in terms of urgency which means that some people who feel their situation is important but manageable may have to wait longer for counselling sessions.

Although we make every effort to offer appointments to all those requesting one as soon as we can, at times we can have a considerable waiting list.

We request that you attend all sessions on time as our counsellors work on a strict appointment basis and will not be able to extend your time beyond your allotted period.

Cancelling and Missed Appointments

Please give us 24 hours notice if you can and wish to cancel or change your appointment.

If you miss a session and do not contact us within 4 weeks, your details will be closed.

Letters of Support

Occasionally, we are asked to write ‘letters of support’ which provide evidence that you are seeing a counsellor about issues that are causing you difficulties.

We can only write such letters, if you are seeing a counsellor, and only with your permission.

We cannot write a ‘letter of support’ if you have not seen a counsellor and similarly counselling is not usually regarded as appropriate if you are only seeking a ‘letter of support’.

Letters would tend to simply confirm that you are seeing a counsellor.

We cannot influence or determine the outcome of such letters.

In Passing

As we are located in the heart of the Old Aberdeen campus, you may see your counsellors in passing or at events. To respect your privacy, we will not go out of our way to speak to you, although we might nod, smile or say ‘Hi’, as we would with anyone. If you prefer not to have any acknowledgement, please let us know.

We provide training and consultation for members of staff at the University of Aberdeen.

Signposting Students

Staff throughout the university already support many students who disclose emotional or personal problems to them. However, you might find that you are not able to offer the time the person seems to need.

The student may be experiencing deep or long standing problems which you feel unable to respond to or cope with.

You may feel the student might benefit from talking to someone who is not directly involved in the situation.

If this feels impossible you could discuss telephoning for them with the student present as you telephone

Discuss with the student how much information they would like you to give if you make a telephone call and make them aware that the Counselling Service Administrator may ask to speak to them to arrange an appointment

Reassure the student that no information about them will be disclosed by the counsellor unless they specifically request this

Good Cause Letters

The Counselling Service can provide letters of support for students for good cause who have attended or are attending the Counselling Service.

Students can request a letter of support when they meet their counsellor or by emailing counselling@abdn.ac.uk

Students who have had no prior contact with the Counselling Service should not be signposted to the Counselling Service simply for letters of support.

Training and Consultancy

We can support individual staff in their work with students by offering support or consultancy in specific situations. This is done with respect for the confidentiality of the student.

We stock a library of books which relate to the many issues, challenges and problems which bring people to counselling. These include books which offer self-help, information or education.

Our booklist clusters books by category from ABUSE, ANXIETY and DEPRESSION, through to TRANSITIONS and everything in between.

Up to 2 books can be borrowed for a deposit of £5 per book for 4 weeks. Please contact the Counselling Service office to check availability because in many cases we only have one copy of each book listed. However, if a book you want to borrow is out on loan, you can check the University Library Collections or contact them directly as they may be able to help.

You don’t have to be seeing a counsellor to borrow a book. In some cases, borrowers find this can be a helpful alternative to counselling. But it doesn’t prevent you seeing a counsellor either.

Please note - The books listed do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and values of the University, the Counselling Service or staff however they may still be of interest and help and are provided in good faith.

The Foundation for Positive Mental Health is working with the University of Aberdeen to provide free access to the Feeling Good App - an evidence based self-help programme.

All students can now access a mental skills training programme which teaches how to calm the mind and develop a positive mindset, enabling greater emotional resilience to deal more effectively with challenges of student life.

What is it?

The app contains a safe and effective programme, Positive Mental Training, that is widely used within the NHS, for increasing wellbeing and recovery from stress, worry and low mood.

It is a mind body programme derived from sports psychology, which takes you through a set of 12 physical and mental exercises. This allows you to switch to a helpful state of mind and let go of the negative emotional triggers, which underpin distress, whilst simultaneously increasing your concentration and focus.

The techniques build a resilient mind set, encapsulated by successful Olympic athletes who work on the foundation of positive motivations and memories to enable goal focused success.

Benefits

immediately helps calm the body and mind

non-stigmatising sports background

aids recovery from mental distress as well as developing all round mental wellbeing

12 years evidenced based development from within the NHS

promotes deeper sleep and concentration

different to mindfulness as it combines physical relaxation with positive outcome-focused visualisations

supports equality - based on universal, transcultural psychological needs, audio and available to all

Get the App

search on 'feeling good' and look for the logo with a blue sky and sun

install the app free to your device. It comes with free stuff

unlock the rest of the tracks by putting the username and password below into the login boxes at the foot of the 'download' tab. (NB this username and password are only for this app.)

on an ipad/iphone you need to close the keypad (press done) before pressing 'submit'

complete the questionnaire - all results are anonymous

NB your device needs to be set up to use the app store, this requires registering with Google or Apple.

My in-app login username = abdnuni2 My in-app password = positive

Start now

Find a place to make yourself comfortable and start by listening to track 1. You will be asked to close your eyes and relax. Make sure you're in a safe environment in case you fall asleep. Each track is 20 mins. If you can, listen at least once a day. Listen to the same track for a few days before moving onto the next track. There are 12 tracks in all but most people tell us their sleep and mood quickly become better.

For more information: listen to the welcome message on the home screen and/or watch the short video on the instructions tab.

University of Aberdeen students going through a tough time or struggling with mental health issues can now get free online support with Big White Wall.

Big White Wall is designed to help people get support, take control and feel better. It provides 24/7 peer and professional support (with trained counsellors online at all times), plus a range of wellbeing tools to help people self-manage. This service is safe and anonymous, so no one will know you have chosen to use it unless you tell them.

If you would like to get support, simply go to Big White Wall and enter your University of Aberdeen email address.

The Mix

The Mix offers young people 25 years old and under, discussion forums, information resources on a wide range of issues, from sex and relationships to a Student Survival Guide plus trained advisors who can offer email support, instant chat and telephone counselling.

The Desk

Australian-based The Desk offer students globally a range of modules, quizzes, videos and podcasts to guide you through some really useful self-help plans, including challenging unhelpful thoughts, organising your time and mindfulness.

Opening hours: Online

Living Life

Want to know how to feel happier, more confident and worry less right now? Would you like to learn new ways of dealing with what life throws at you?

Living Life to the Full offers you enjoyable and interactive courses that will help you understand your feelings, thoughts and behaviours, and what to do about them!

Opening hours: Online

Breathing Space

Breathing Space is a free and confidential phoneline service for any individual who is experiencing low mood or depression, or who is unusually worried and in need of someone to talk to.

Mindfulness for Students

Mindfulness for Students - mindfulness training for students is enjoyable and creative as well as productive - helping you to stay calm, focused and better manage the pressures of student life.

Opening Hours: Online

Students Against Depression

Students Against Depression offers comprehensive, award-winning information and resources to help you identify low mood or depression and then find a way forward, validated by health professionals alongside tips and advice from students who have experienced it all themselves.

Opening Hours: Online

FRANK

FRANK helps you find out everything you might want to know about drugs (and some stuff you don't). For friendly, confidential advice, Talk to Frank…